Keeping Up With Kate

Featured

Babymoon-in’ in Key West

My husband and I ventured to Old Town for a few days in September to savor our last trip as a family of two before we welcome our first little one in December. We booked cheap flights through Allegiant directly into the Keys during off season — and while I wouldn’t recommend visiting in September (so, so hot especially at six months pregnant😅), it was less crowded and we had most places almost entirely to ourselves. Keep in mind we weren’t visiting for the bar scene, because, well, the baby. I’ve also spent most of the year traveling abroad so I purposefully didn’t plan a trip with a detailed itinerary. We just simply hung out and explored — but I think we found some gems worth sharing with you!

Where We Stayed

I don’t know much about other parts of the Keys, but our Airbnb in Old Town was perfectly located for a quick visit, especially if you’re looking to get a taste of the culture. We were 10 minutes from the airport, a block off of Duval (the main street in town, but it wasn’t loud at all), and we could walk everywhere we needed to be (including the distance from each side of the island). The house was super clean, had a private hot tub, and access to two semi-private pools (we never had a visitor the entire time we were there). Plus, it was more affordable than the resorts. I’d definitely stay again.

Check out the Center Court Historic Cottages on Airbnb — basically anything hosted by Naomi is all in one area with use of the same pools and other shared spaces. We actually booked Harrison’s Hideaway, but were upgraded to Family House due to a maintenance issue in the original location.

A surprise bonus? The yummiest Cuban food only a few feet away (see below)!

Beaches

Everyone mentioned Key West “not being a beach town,” but don’t let that scare you. While I would agree it’s more of a party and watersports scene, you can absolutely visit beaches and lounge for the day. We thoroughly enjoyed both beaches we visited. In general, they remind me of European beaches — more natural (which means rockier and smaller). You also pay a pretty price for chairs and umbrellas on the public beaches. If you’re traveling on a budget, you can take your towels and plop in the sand, but this mama wasn’t doing it.

Smathers Beach was our top pick. It’s big (and wasn’t crowded because of the off season). There’s a huge sand bar 30 yards out in the ocean, which makes it the perfect place to relax. From the shoreline, you can see the changes in the water colors. We would wade out to the sand bar and then lay sit in the shallow water for hours. We saw a few jellyfish, a stingray, and tropical fish! If you plan on spending the day like we did, there are restrooms on the beach but food was a little hard to come by. Apparently food trucks line the street during the busy season, but if you’re braving off-season like us, head across the street to Margaritaville Beach House Hotel for good food at their outdoor restaurant. Just make sure you have a shirt and shoes.

Fort Zachary was also a good spot. It’s a state park so you pay a few bucks to enter, but the beach is really nice. We didn’t like the water as much because there wasn’t a sandbar. There was a tiki bar and restrooms on the beach which were convenient (but the food was pricey for the quality IMO).

Where to Eat (Hint: Anywhere With Cuban Food)

The first thing we did was ask two locals their favorite place for authentic Cuban — and I’m so glad we did! Both of them mentioned El Siboney so we got it the first night we were there and it didn’t disappoint. Try the Roast Pork or Ropa Vieja (beef with a tomato sauce) because they’re both delicious:

We were also lucky to stumble upon Key West Cuban Coffee two doors down from our Airbnb. It had THE BEST empanadas I’ve had to date, the biggest rice bowls, and yummy everything, including the classic Cuban sandwich pictured below. We went back twice and wish we would’ve discovered it sooner. Alex also liked their Cuban espresso.

For dinner, we stumbled across Onlywood by accident — and in classic Alex and Katelyn travel tradition — we went back twice. I know, I know … there are so many different places to try, but their pizza sold us on night one.

And finally, what’s vacay without sugar? I hope I never have to find out. You have to go to Mattheessans and get the 1/2 pound cookies. We spent $15 bucks on the Cookie Monster sundae and crushed it. The crunchy turtle ice cream was soo good, and Alex loved the key lime pie.

We also grabbed Flamingo Crossing Ice Cream and it was equally delicious. The Oreo was packed with cookies, and it was super creamy. Alex went for the key lime pie flavor (again).

Catch the Sunsets

I booked one thing — and if you know me, you know it was a boat cruise. I’m happiest on the water! I definitely recommend the 2-hour Sunset Sail with Live Music through Sebago Watersports. I love live music so it was definitely a plus — and it’s open bar with snacks all night (the shrimp cocktail hit the spot). I booked through GetYourGuide.

You also need to catch the sunset from Sunset Pier. There was live music the night we were there, good drinks, and just the best view.

We really did have the best four days together alone in each other’s company. We’re often traveling with friends or family, so the rare moments alone were super special. We decided on our next visit we’ll fly into Miami, rent a car, and drive through the Keys to switch it up — and we definitely want to take a sea plane to the Dry Tortugas + Alex would die for a deep sea fishing trip. But that’s all for next time…

We ended the trip by buying a sweet baby book about roosters (they’re everywhere in Key West) and a onesie to remember our babymoon. We want our little one to know they made the journey with us 🙂

Thanks for keeping up!

Featured

The Ultimate Amalfi Coast Guide

Ciao! The Amalfi Coast is one of the world’s top travel destinations for a reason, and I was lucky enough to visit for my thirtieth birthday this past September because you never, ever need an excuse to do the things that make your heart happy.

My travel list is endless — with very few places I wouldn’t go — so my friend asked if she could surprise me with the destination (yes, anywhere in the world!) for my birthday trip. Of course I said yes, with one caveat: I wanted to spend at least one day dancing my heart out on a boat.

Spoiler: She picked the Amalfi Coast. The secret slipped sooner than expected, but it gave us a good laugh and it meant I could help plan every single part of the trip. What a way to celebrate turning the big 3-0! One thing is for sure: It will be hard to top, but the good thing is we’re up for the challenge 😉 Until the next big trip, enjoy these Amalfi Coast insider tips.

Where to Stay

With stunning coastal views no matter where you go, it’s hard to go wrong when picking a place to stay. If you do your research like any good traveler does, you’ll read a lot about Positano and Amalfi. They’re both central hubs with easy access to transportation.

We chose to split our nights in two places: Amalfi (because it’s cheaper than Positano) and the neighboring city of Atrani. Atrani isn’t visible from Amalfi (it’s around a big turn on a cliff), but they’re so close you can actually walk back and forth between them. So why stay in both? The better question: Why not? There’s nothing wrong with staying in one place, and I’m sure a lot of people prefer less disruptions, but we like to experience as many places as possible when we travel. We headed north to Tuscany for a few days, too, but more about that later…

Amalfi and Atrani are both charming in unique ways. Amalfi is a tourist hub, but that also means it’s bustling and alive. Atrani is Amalfi’s quieter sister with a more local feel. Honestly, we loved both and lucked out with two, perfect Airbnbs that I’d recommend to anyone. They were both in central locations, very clean, and the view from our Atrani Airbnb was an affordable dream!

Yes, there are so many stunning hotels that bloggers recommend, but they’re pricey and I prefer the charm of a local’s home.

Amalfi Airbnb: Upscale Amalfi Apartment in 19th Century Building
Atrani Airbnb: La Piccola Atrani

The view from our Atrani Airbnb was everything (left) and our Amalfi Airbnb was a 30-second walk to the main piazza (right):

What to Do

1,000% book a boat ride along the coast.
Picture an intimate boat ride (less than eight people) with a hot local captain, the dreamiest views you won’t see anywhere else in the world, snorkeling in grottos, limoncello shots, champagne toasts, cliff jumping, and dancing with strangers. IT JUST HITS DIFFERENT IN ITALY. I can remember every second of the boat ride months later. Book it early, book it twice … just book it! We chose GetYourGuide’s 4-hour Boat and Snorkeling Tour in Small Group, and it was perfect.

Hike the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods).
You are in the clouds when you hike this winding cliffside trail. The hike itself is a great way to break up a busy week, escape the hustle and bustle, and experience a peace you won’t find on other parts of your trip. It’s not easy or relaxing, but it is truly a different world. The locals who live in the mountains live off the land. They don’t have cars; they ride donkeys. They don’t have grocery stores; they grow their food on the land. It’s humbling to hike so high up, looking down on the beauty below. We chose to start our hike in Bomerano, heading towards Nocelle and eventually Positano. We didn’t allow enough time to go all the way, but I wish we would’ve. (By the way, the pictures do it NO justice).

I’d be reminisce if I didn’t mention the best part of our hike — the start. We took the bus from Amalfi to Bomerano early to avoid crowds, reaching the town before 7:30 a.m. when everything was still closed and hardly any other humans were out and about. With little signage leading us to the trail, we followed the only couple who looked like they were also going on a hike (sometimes you have to make judgment calls … insert hands up emoji girl) into a little place to get a cappuccino and that’s when we met Antonio.

Antonio was jolly. He was proud of the food he and his family grew on their land and eagerly started tossing different homemade goodies on our table. Remember, we just wanted coffee … but instead we got two wine tastings (at 8 a.m.), pizza, fresh figs, tomatoes, and grapes off the vine. It just. kept. coming. We stopped after the trip to buy three bottles of wine to remember our special friend and had to beg him to take our money. He was the sweetest, and I’m pretty sure I headed into the hike dehydrated and a little tipsy because of his hospitality (but it was worth it).

After the hike, we were waiting for the bus in Bomerano again and grabbed the best pastries of the trip at a tiny, tiny place on the side of the road called Panificio Manna Antionio. The ham and cheese pastries were everything.

Spend a day (or two or three) on the beach, including the must-see Fiordo Di Furore.

We penciled in the beach for the first day on the coast because we knew we’d be tired from flying all night, and we had no regrets. We stayed on Amalfi Beach because it was close to our Airbnb. It was small, but oh so beautiful. Honestly, don’t stress about what beach to head to — they’re all gorgeous. Proof:

The restaurants on the beaches are all about service. When you order drinks, they deliver them directly to your beach chair with the best salty snacks + olives on the house. Drink, swim, sunbathe, repeat. What could be better?

One of the other advantages of Amalfi being so central to everything is the quick bus ride (~20 minutes) to the stunning Fiordo Di Furore. We went twice because it’s unbelievable. Swimming in the water feels surreal when you’re looking up at the arch; it’s one of those places where you feel so small (in a good way), swallowed up the by the grandeur of the cliffs that it kind of takes your breath away. My sister also loves collecting sea shells so was in her element on the pebble beach. The pebbles were more like broken (but smooth) chips of pottery. Think sea glass but terracotta-style. We brought a bunch of treasures back to craft with in the future.

Visit the coastal village of Positano and town of Ravello.

Positano is a beaut. So, so pretty … and charming … and romantic. We enjoyed exploring, shopping, and making TikToks on the iconic beach with one of the best backdrops in the world.

Don’t be surprised if you run into celebrities here. Spotted on our trip? Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s mom (without Beyoncé, ugh). Fun fact: We were buying these super fun paintings of Positano at the same time Beyoncé’s mom was (pic on right; Jay-Z on left)! If you want to know who else might be lurking around, it’s public information who is renting the massive yachts. The prince of Egypt was on the Sarafsa the week we were there; Beyoncé and Jay-Z were on the The Flying Fox.

Everyone will recommend eating seafood dinner at Chez Black. I’m sure it’s amazing, but we never made it there. Instead, consider grabbing a cliffside cocktail at Ristorante L’Ancora overlooking Positano while the sun sets. The views are unbelievable and it’s super close to the bus stop to return back to Amalfi at the end of the day. Life hack for the coast: Buses don’t run late so make sure you know the schedule and plan your day accordingly. There are other restaurants and shops along the road, so you have other options. My sister and I both bought jewelry from Ivi Gioielli (the cutest little shop). Well, actually, I was being cheap and would’t buy a necklace I liked, so my sister ordered it for a surprise birthday gift for me once we were back in the States. How sweet?

Ravello is also dreamy. It’s another place in the clouds with stunning views and a remote feel. We bought the cutest dried flower earrings for our mom at a jewelry store in the main piazza before heading to Mimi Pizzeria & Cucino for dinner. It was scrumptious and had the cutest vibe (we ate under a lush trellis).

Take a weekend trip to Tuscany to drink allll of the wine.
I suggest booking a tour; no research required. I already have the perfect guide for you! World, meet Stefano Coltellini with Get Tours:

He planned an absolutly brilliant tour to three beautiful vineyards, each with their own unique charm. He picked us up on time in a private luxury van that was super clean. He was so genuine with us and we all shared small talk for a few days while boppin’ around Tuscany. We visited:

La Fornace Winery: Think grandpa’s house in the rolling hills with a mom+pop feel
Castello Tricerchi Winery: A historic castle with wine cellars galore
Poggio Rubino Winery: Small on the inside, with a large patio and pretty view outside

We loved learning about the intriacte wine-making process, eating all of the charcuterie boards, and sippin’ wine among the cypress trees. My sister shipped bottles home from each winery we visited, which is such a fun keepsake.

We also walked to Avignonesi Winery on our own because it was close to our Airbnb. The staff were so friendly and we laughed the evening away sipping on wine. TMI: It was our first night in Tuscany and we hadn’t eaten all day because we were running around catching trains/didn’t realize our Airbnb was in the middle of NOWHERE with no access to transporation or food. We didn’t eat dinner that night, aside from the breadsticks the winery provided, and let’s just say it wasn’t fun in the moment, but the wine made it all better.

Eat lemon-flavored everything, gelato, pizza, pasta, caprese, and olive oil every. single. day.
Calories don’t exist when you travel, especially in Italy. Here were some of our favorite places:

Amalfi
- Head to Enoteca e Gastronomia il Protontino for the yummiest lasagna.
- Make a reservation at Pizzeria Donna Stella (and eat under the lemon trees).
- Grab a bit to eat with locals at I Cartari (Macelleria Carrano Carni). The fish or Geneovese pasta are both great dishes.

Florence
- Ciro and Sons Ristorante Pizzeria if you’re traveling with someone gluten free. The entire restaurant was gluten free (which is hard to find if you’re in Italy). My sister raved over the quality.
- Venchi Firenze for the best gelato of your life

I could truly write a book about this trip. I’m so thankful I got to experience it with my sister and one of my best friends. I can’t wait to go back with my husband one day! If you can, go, go, go. Thanks for keeping up!

Bring Your Boho-Inspired Ideas to Life on a Budget

When I decided to make our spare bedroom cozier for our guests, I knew one thing: I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. We’ve already done some major renovations on our house and this wasn’t one I wanted to break the bank for. Luckily, I didn’t have to. My husband and parents are always up for the many DIY challenges I throw their way and I’m so grateful for it. I say it every time we remodel, but I truly couldn’t bring my ideas to life without their help (and we all know I have a ton of grand ideas lol)!

To be honest, before we started the spare bedroom renovation, the room was just an extra storage space for us. We have a small, two-bedroom house with tiny closets (tell me you live in an old house without telling me you live in an old house). When we had guests stay, we had to scramble and hide all of the clothes and random decor that was thrown in the room. I was determined to change that.

I wanted the room to be bright and fun instead of blue and boring, so we started with a fresh paint job. I always stick to neutrals because that’s just what I like best. I chose Valspar’s Santa Fe Spirit for most of the walls and Valspar’s Desert Travel s for the accent wall. In my opinion, painting is the easiest way to bring new life to an old space without breaking the bank — and it changes the entire mood of a room. I know it’s tedious and annoying work, but it’s always worth it.

BEFORE:

Of course, painting alone would be too simple for me. I decided the room needed an accent wall and had seen a geometric design made out of boards on Pinterest that I couldn’t get out of my head. I started drawing up my own design to get a ballpark for how many boards we needed to buy:

We ended up buying MDF boards (something we rarely do), but since they were purely for display, it made sense to go cheaper. I painted all of the boards before we hung them, but we ended up having to touch them up quite a bit afterwards so it might make sense to paint once they’re on the wall. We started by hanging the longest board first and worked our way out from there. It was harder than I thought to get all of the measurements and angles precise. Thanks for your help (again), Dad!

Since the hardwood floors were already finished, the only other task we had was to decorate! I wanted a certain look for the light, but couldn’t bring myself to spend $200-$300 for one (why are lights so expensive?!). I found a few bloggers who used baskets to make their own and was hooked. I bought this basket from Ikea for $25, ripped the handles off with pliers, cut a hole in the bottom of it, and then mounted it to a semi-flush light (like this one from Lowe’s for less than $10). Ta-da! Insert cheap, pretty light:

We also made our picture ledge shelf by ourselves, too. I’m not convinced it was cheaper than buying one, but it was an adventure and time spent together. We used pine and sealed it with poly.

As for the furniture, the desk was from my childhood bedroom and I refinished it a few years ago. It just so happened to match the theme of the room, so we didn’t do anything else to it. When we were re-doing it the first time, we used white paint and then stained the drawers different shades of brown and added gold bar handles. My mom also added padding and fur to the wooden seat. It’s different and it’s so me. I’ve always loved how it turned out!

For the finishing touches, like a cute bedspread and wall hangings, Urban Outfitters had everything I wanted. I don’t shop there, so it was completely by chance. They just had what I was looking for (and yes, the dresser was a splurge, but nothing else compared once I fell in love with it). I’m still finding new pieces at TJ Maxx and Target when I go shopping. They are my staple stores (sorry about the *$15 candle* Alex — it just matched the vibe).

I’ve also deemed it our travel room because you can find little pieces of all the places we’ve visited sprinkled throughout. I have a push-pin world map where I document all of the places I’ve been. It hangs above the desk and was also a DIY piece. I ordered a downloadable map from Etsy and added cork board to the back before placing it in a large frame. Michaels always has good deals on large frames, which is where I got mine.

Each photo on the picture ledge represents our favorite trips and travel memories (hiiii Colorado, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Santorini). It’s not finished because I’m still hunting cute picture frames, but if we wait on that, we’ll be waiting a long time. We also have trinkets from Israel and Russia that we decorated with to remember and honor my Grandma.

I can’t wait to fill it with more of the places we love. It’s the perfect combination of us: loving our tiny home in Pittsburgh and remodeling to make it exactly what we want, but never losing our passion for traveling the world. Cheers to the best of both worlds — home and a far. Thanks for keeping up!

How to Spend 3 Days in Savannah

Looking for your next girl’s trip? Add Savannah to the top of your list. My sister and I planned a surprise weekend for our mom to celebrate her retirement. The weather, gorgeous historic squares throughout downtown, and the open container law make it such a fun/pretty place to visit. We flew in on a Friday night and left on a Tuesday morning. Here are some of the best ways (IMO) to fill your three-day weekend trip in Georgia!

Book a food walking tour.

I’m not a big fan of bus tours or museums, which are oddly some of the first things many people recommend when visiting a new place. But … if you add food into the mix, consider myself sold. Ever since the food walking tour I booked in Athens for my honeymoon, I’m convinced it’s one of the best ways to orient yourself in a new city. It’s why I booked the First Squares Food Walking Tour through GetYourGuide for our first full day. We had delicious food and walked off all the calories, too. Plus, there’s always the perfect amount of information for the history buffs out there (but not too much, which is why I like it). Did you know Savannah was America’s first planned city?

I also like using food tours as an opportunity to chat with other guests (and the tour guide!) about what they have planned during their trip. If you want to skip the tour, here are my recommendations for places to try if you’re near City Market in the heart of downtown Savannah:

Grab a mojito at Mint to Be Mojitos! Trust me, they’re delicious and so refreshing. The chicken empanada also hit the spot. I’ve only had empanadas a few times, but these were definitely the best so far, which has to count for something.

Order chicken pot pie from Little Crown by Pie Society. This British bakery is one I wish we could’ve gone back to. We sampled a sausage roll and it was so buttery/flaky/everything you could ever want from a pastry. I can’t even imagine how tasty the pot pies are.
Taste honey samples at Savannah Bee Company. I don’t know about you, but we go through a ton of honey in our house. I was super excited to try Tupelo honey (where are all my Tim McGraw ‘Southern Girl’ fans?) and quickly bummed to find out they were sold out of Tupelo honey until the following year because it’s rare + a tedious/long process to make it. However, after tasting the whipped honey, I wasn’t even sad. It had such a unique consistency and the cinnamon flavor was to die for. We all brought some back! Place it on a green apple slice with cheese. You’re welcome.

Rent bikes and explore.

Savannah is very walkable, but our Airbnb was a 35-minute walk from River Street so after spending all day on our feet, we were exhausted by the end of the second day. We rented bikes on a Sunday afternoon (hint: discounted rates) from Savannah on Wheels near Forsyth Park. The staff were super friendly and offered route recommendations. One of the routes we didn’t chose meandered through the cities 22 squares, which I’d like to try if we ever make it back. However, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, I’d suggest biking to Bonaventure Cemetery like we did. It’s about a 10-mile ride (one way) from the bike rental shop, but it was relatively flat and easy. If you don’t have a good sense of direction, you might want to skip this because we definitely had to navigate relatively busy roads and some sketchier neighborhoods (but only for short periods of time). Once you get to the cemetery, the views are worth it. It’s such a beautiful place. Be sure to stop by the welcome center so they can give you some navigation tips. We bicycled straight through the cemetery and all of the way back to the river section, which is a good choice if you’re visiting quickly.

Splurge on a fancy dinner at The Olde Pink House.

We did this on a whim because we didn’t make reservations weeks in advance, which we found out quickly is a necessity. However, when we were walking by on our first night in town, we asked a hostess if we could get a table at any time over the course of our trip. He suggested stopping by one evening right as the restaurant was opening. The side bar is first come, first serve and after a two-hour wait, we were able to enjoy the food everyone raves over. If we ever go back, we 100% will make a reservation to eat in the basement. The atmosphere is so dreamy — candles offer the only light alongside a live pianist. For me, it was an excuse to play dress up, pretend I was a southern belle, and try something new. I ordered the Crispy Scored Flounder, which was the first time in my life I ate a whole fish (yes, skin and all)! Getting past the texture was the hardest part, but the apricot shallot sauce was incredible. Our server tried convincing me to eat the tail, but I just couldn’t do it. The service was top notch and they even helped us celebrate mom’s retirement with a sweet treat on the house. We were outside so the pictures are dark, but you get the idea:

Bonus: The pink walls are an excuse for a photoshoot while you wait.

Head to River Street to shop/eat.

River Street is the heart of Savannah. It’s cool to experience, but very crowded. While it’s nice to see, we honestly didn’t spend a ton of time there and I’m not sad about it. We did stop by River Street Sweets to snatch some pralines (worth it for the sample alone), and we snagged some tacos at Savannah Tequila Co. I wouldn’t make special plans to eat here, but it was late + we were starving so it worked. We had the tacos on special topped with fries and pickled onions (would recommend).

Grab brunch and take a stroll in Forsyth Park.

It’s hard to find a blog about Savannah that doesn’t suggest Collins Quarter for brunch, so of course, I added it to our list. There are two locations, but I would suggest visiting the one if Forsyth Park. We went on a Sunday morning right as they opened and didn’t have to wait. The avocado toast was scrumptious. All in all, it’s great food in a great location.

Our Airbnb was near the park and we spent many days walking through it. On Saturdays, there’s a cute farmer’s market. And the iconic fountain and mossy trees make it a must for pictures, too.

Take a day trip to Tybee Island.

One of my favorite things about Savannah is it’s close proximity to the beach. It’s the ideal way to break up a long weekend of walking and exploring. I suggest booking your beach day right in the middle of your trip. We grabbed an Uber to the island (it’s only about a 25-minute trip) and got dropped off near the pier. It’s a good spot with access to public restrooms and food (if needed). Plus, we were able to rent beach chairs for $5/day … talk about cheap! We packed a cooler with snacks and booze that we could dispose of at the end of the day. It was a great decision and easy to operationalize if you don’t have a car. We just stopped at a grocery store near our Airbnb the day before when we had bikes and peddled our snacks back with us. The island has so much to offer, including a great low tide that exposes many ocean treasures.

We also snagged dinner at The Crab Shack on the bay. If you want a shrimp boil and crab legs, go. I was pleasantly surprised by how cute it was, but would HIGHLY suggest avoiding it around early evening. The sand gnats come out and we got eaten alive.

If we have a chance to go back, I want to rent kayaks and paddle to Little Tybee Island, which is off the map + full of wildlife.

Head to Churchill’s rooftop bar for The Garden of Evil cocktail.

Yes, this cocktail gets it’s very own section — it’s THAT good. We stumbled upon this pub on our very first day in Savannah. Honestly, it’s the best mixed drink I’ve had in my 29 years on this Earth. We went back a second time for it because we loved it so much. It’s SPICCCYYY, so if that’s not your thing, I honestly feel sorry for you because this margarita-style drink was a game-changer. Churchill’s is close to The Olde Pink House, so if you have a long wait like we did, head on over to pass the time. Pro tip: Use your straw so your lips don’t burn from the jalapenos (I learned the hard way the first time around and was rubbing ice cubes on my lips to cool them off because it has that much of a kick).

Other spots worth visiting:

Leopold’s for ice cream (duh)
The Coffee Fox for chais
Le Cafe Gourmet for crepes (Add the pickled onions to any savory crepe – they are out of this world!)

I’m so thankful the three of us get to make these memories together as adults. I can’t wait for our next adventure. Until then … enjoy some selfies from our trip. And as always, thanks for keeping up!

‘Texas Forever:’ Frisco and Dallas Must-Dos

I’ll be the first to admit Dallas and the surrounding areas weren’t on the top of my travel list, but when you have a best friend that moves all across the country, you don’t pass up a girl’s trip. And even though in some ways the pandemic has stopped our lives and made the ability to travel quite hard, it’s also offered great flexibility and the chance to work safely in remote places — a luxury we might not have in the future … so why not book a plane ticket?

Frisco (a suburb of Dallas) and the many places nearby truly had so much to offer. In fact, if I had a penny for how many times I mentioned the vastness of the metroplex, the unlimited shopping malls, six-lane highways (with very limited traffic signage — and that’s putting it nicely), I’d be rich. Plus, I’ll take wearing shorts in October and a good ole country vibe any day. Let’s just say Texas brought my childhood memories of belting Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places” with my sister and attending my very first concert (Brooks & Dunn) with my parents back to life. Here are the highlights from my trip and recommendations of where to go and what to eat if you ever make it to this part of Texas!

Day Trip to Waco
You’ll encounter biscuits in most restaurants down South (can we please make that a thing up North?), but if you want melt-in-your-mouth biscuits with the fluffiest strawberry butter, you have to eat at Magnolia Table in Waco. Pic for proof, but trust me, they’re incredible:

Waco itself is pretty small and I was actually surprised at how little there was to do outside of visiting the Magnolia Market at the Silos. That said, it’s fun to see, and of course, has the cutest vibe along with a bakery, coffee shop, and several stores. I bought a leather sign for my wall and I can’t wait to hang it up. Plan for long lines and be sure to enjoy a cupcake and lemonade while you’re waiting. We didn’t make it over to the Little Shop on Bosque, the original home of Magnolia Market, but it was recommended to us by several people and offers last chance and discount items.

Line Dance at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth
All it took was one night at Billy Bob’s and my heart was sold on Texas. If you want to channel your inner country vibes, this is THE place. Trust me, they don’t call it the world’s largest honky tonk for nothing. The live music is awesome and it’s ideal for people watching. The cowboys have some serious dance moves and after a few drinks, we were confident enough? drunk enough? to brave the dance floor. Regardless if you participate in the dancing, you’re bound to have a good time. Disclaimer: If you’re not a country music fan or at least a little redneck, this one might not be for you (but that’s a damn shame). If you’re in Fort Worth beforehand, check out the stockyards. The cattle walk down the street twice a day. It’s super quick, but very Texas.

The Truck Yard at the Colony
I really did enjoy many of our adventures, but I think this place takes the gold medal. It’s so chill, has great drinks, and even better live music. I mean, who doesn’t want to sit inside the back of an old Ford truck and have a drink under the dreamiest lights? We visited twice during my trip but it wasn’t enough. I could’ve went back every single night. If you need a place to relax and waste a few hours, this is your spot. It’s the junk turned into a creative space for me.

The Dallas Arboretum
This place was the best seasonal find. It had pumpkins on pumpkins on pumpkins. And it was nice to get some fresh air. The arboretum was pretty massive and I know they also have a Christmas display. Check out what they’re offering when you’re in town; it’s a good sight-seeing activity.

Eat Your Heart Out
I love eating new food almost as much as I love traveling. We didn’t have a bad bite of food the entire time I was there and we ate out a lot. It was all top notch. Don’t miss these places if you’re in town:

Mexican Sugar: It’s at the top of the list for a reason. If you know Alex (my husband) and I at all, you know we love Mexican food. We try any place we can and it’s hard to beat some of our favorite places in Pittsburgh, but this did it for me. It currently holds my spot for best Mexican food to date (!). You have to go! Get the queso, enchiladas, and pineapple margarita.

Hutchin’s BBQ: You aren’t doing Texas right if you’re not eating BBQ. Their sauce was phenomenal (I even bought some to bring home) and the banana pudding was bomb.

The Biscuit Bar: Again, proof that biscuits are everywhere in Texas. Find me a better chicken sandwich and tater tots … I’ll wait:

Deep Ellum Brewing: Good beer is just as important as good food to me and Deep Ellum had both. The Dallas Blonde was a smooth beer. The mac was everything and so were the tater tots (not pictured).

Places also worth trying: Pizza Snob and Gnome Cones in Denton, Legacy Hall in Plano, and Torchy’s Tacos.

As much as I loved everything we experienced (per usual when you travel with Laryssa TBH), I know it’s the people I’m with who make the memories so special. I met some of Laryssa’s Texas friends/family and they were honestly the sweetest hosts and best people to hang out with (thanks for being so awesome Elisabeth/Dylan/Kayti)!

My spontaneous week and a half trip to Texas also brought many firsts for me, which seems to be a personal theme when I travel. Because … why not? Texas firsts included:

Avocado toast (sourdough bread only, please)
Chili (I know what you’re thinking but I really don’t like beans)
Whataburger (sorry to any fans, but it really doesn’t compare to In-N-Out)
Line dancing
Banana pudding
Blue bell ice cream (I have very high ice cream standards and this was gooood)
Bachelorette bing (Never watched an episode before; probably never will again … but girl’s night was fun lol)

One of my all-time favorite shows, Friday Night Lights, put it best: “Texas forever.” Thanks for keeping up!

Frisco, CO: The Perfect Winter Getaway

While we’re all adjusting to this new social distancing norm, I can’t help but reminisce on two of my favorite things: exploring new places and hanging out with my friends. This time last year, we were just a few weeks out from one of the best girl’s trips to date — my bachelorette weekend in Frisco, Colorado. It truly is a town right out of a Hallmark movie — small, quiet, and quaint. It’s also smack dab in the middle of popular ski towns, providing easy access to Vail and Breckenridge, while remaining perfectly removed from the crowds. We visited in January and embraced all the snow for sleigh rides, snowshoeing, hot tubbing under the stars, and sulfur spring soaks.

Friday

We flew out of Pittsburgh on a Friday evening, fully expecting to take advantage of Friday night in Frisco, which is about a two-hour drive from the Denver airport. But … as we headed into the mountains, we hit SO much traffic. I remember a local from the airport warning us about the traffic from all the skiers, but we weren’t expecting it to be as bad as it was. Let’s just say our late dinner plans were canceled and we didn’t pull into our Airbnb until after midnight — tired, cranky, and hungry.

Saturday

On Saturday, we headed to the Frisco Nordic Center. We were able to rent snowshoeing equipment and head to trails outside of the center on nearby mountains. We didn’t know if this was going to be possible before we went, so being in the wilderness definitely made the experience more enjoyable. The mountain was steep and challenging, but it leveled out at some places which gave us time to rest.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that we rented a minivan without four-wheel drive for our trip. Before you judge us, it felt like a practical decision at one point because we could all fit into one vehicle 😉 At the end of our hike, when we tried to leave, the van was stuck … but after several pushes by all eight of us, we got it out.

That evening, we drove the minivan to Vail. We checked out the stores ($$$) and grabbed a few beers at the local brewery, Vail Brewing Co. It was a quick trip and a little too bougie for us, but worth seeing.

Sunday

We drove to Denver on Sunday morning and it felt like a whole different world. There was no snow and tons of sun, and it was warm enough to walk around without a jacket. It was the best way to catch a break from the cold, so I’m glad we visited in the middle of our trip and not at the beginning. Our first stop of the day was the 5 Star Salt Caves Wellness Center. I’d been wanting to try a salt cave for a long time (eek!), and it was a great way to build in some relaxation on our busy trip. The cave itself was chilly, but we each got a towel to lay over ourselves. Calming music played in the background and our chairs were low enough that we could dig our hands in the salt. We were instructed to be completely quiet during the session, but we weren’t the best listeners and giggled our way through it … because that’s what friends are for! Afterwards, I bought a mini salt lamp wall plug that I use a night light in our bathroom; it’s so cute and a constant reminder of our trip.

After the salt cave, we headed to Denver Market. City markets are usually a must-do when I travel; they never disappoint and who doesn’t love food and dessert overload? They’re also nice when you’re traveling with lots of people because everyone can get something different. Of course, I chose an ice cream flight:

The brewery options were endless in Denver. We didn’t end up having time for the Coors Brewery tour as planned, but we did get to Blue Moon Brewing Company! It was a fun atmosphere, especially with the barrel-like tables. Blue Moon was my beer of choice for years, so it brought back good memories.

On our way back to Frisco, we stopped at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It was beeeautiful and part of the reason visiting Colorado in the summer is also on my bucket list. Who wouldn’t want to see a concert there?

Monday

On Monday, it was finally time to check out Breckenridge! Even though we didn’t ski, it was super fun. We rode the gondola up the mountain and drank hot chocolate at the bottom of the slopes while we watched the skiers.

We ventured into town afterwards and ate the BEST CREPES EVER at Crepes a la Cart. If you know me, you know I love a good crepe and I can’t wait to get back to Breckenridge one day to eat them all over again.

Our bellies were full and our hearts were happy when we left Breckenridge to head to the town of Dillon to visit the Ice Castles. Man, they did not disappoint. Pro tip: You might not want to wear booties if you plan on going (@laryssastahl) or you may get stuck a few times 😉

Tuesday

Our last full day in Colorado ended just as magical as all the others, but it started out quite interesting. We took a road trip to the town of Hot Sulpher Springs. In my mind, we were about to take a soak in luxurious, natural hot water springs. In reality, we were about to soak in smelly sulphur tubs that had natural particles floating all through the water. To be honest, it was kind of gross, but we found a way to make it fun with photo shoots and alcohol. We had to wash our clothes and bathing suits several times after the trip to wash the smell out. While I’m not so sure I would recommend the experience to others, we made the best of it and I’m proud of myself for enduring it 🙂

In the evening, we went back to the Frisco Nordic Center for a dreamy sleigh ride. It was one of my favorites parts of the trip (though it’s really hard to pick). Our guide was awesome and we had the biggest blankets wrapped around us to keep warm. We stopped halfway at a little shack for hot chocolate and some good ‘ole country singing. It the perfect ending to a trip of a lifetime surrounded by my best friends<3

We crammed a lot into a few days, and I didn’t even mention half the fun we had in our cute Airbnb, complete with a hot tub and a tiny furnace for fires. Taking the time to write this blog amidst all the craziness in the world made me feel super grateful for all the trips we’ve been able to take in our 20s. And while I’m anxiously awaiting our next one, I’m filled with a sense of patience when I look back on all the amazing things I’ve already experienced in my life. Most of all, I’m thankful for my friends who journeyed on this special trip with me. And for Julie, who climbed mountains six months pregnant with our sweet Mila Gray (who is about to turn one!). Thanks for keeping up!

Our Top 5 Phoenix Adventures

Phoenix was such a fun trip for January, especially because we live through cold, snowy PA winters year after year. The relentless sunshine and warm temperatures are a breath of fresh air … and it almost guarantees you an awesome time no matter what you end up doing. We were traveling for a friend’s wedding, but I never miss an opportunity to extend our trip a few days when we’re headed to a new place because #exploring. Here are some of my favorite parts of our trip and must-dos for anyone adventuring to Phoenix:

1. Sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran Desert.
This has been on my bucket list since I can remember and it is SO worth the money. I was able to find a great deal on Groupon for Arizona Balloons, Inc. I definitely recommend checking for deals before you go because I saw a lot of them (and most cut the cost in half). Our guide was super friendly and knowledgable … and our flight was breathtaking. I was worried about being cold, but the gigantic flame puts off a lot of heat, and you don’t have time to think about it while you’re taking in the views. There’s something about standing in a tiny basket while floating 3,000 feet above the ground that makes you feel vulnerable enough to experience fear and adrenaline but safe enough to take in the quietness and the views. I was surprised at how quiet the Earth seemed from so high up. It was surreal and fun … plus it ended with champagne in the desert and offers the most instagrammable moments. It doesn’t get much better than that!

2. Day trip to Sedona.
Sedona is less than a two-hour drive from Phoenix, so it makes the perfect day trip. The landscape couldn’t be more different either, so it feels like a totally different world. It’s hard to give the red rocks justice through pictures, but they are incredibly massive and just plain old beautiful. Allow some time to walk around old Sedona and shop, but spend most of your time hiking or exploring the wilderness. We did a Pink Jeep Tour because it came highly recommended from several people before we went on our trip. It’s definitely a more touristy way of seeing the rocks, but nonetheless, it was a great way for us to see more of Sedona than we would’ve been able to on our feet (since we were only there one day). We did the Broken Arrow tour, which they deem the “most extreme off-road adventure” and it was thrilling. There were many times I was thrown in the air (and my butt completely left the seat!), but it was fun to watch the Jeep climb cliffs and steep rock that I didn’t think it could. We ventured to Chicken Point and Submarine Rock. If we ever make it back, hiking is high on my list. We were considering Cathedral Rock, Devil’s Bridge, and the Birthing Cave hikes.

3. Alll the Mexican food (and local breweries).
We love queso, tacos, guac, salsa … and more queso. If it’s Mexican, we love it, and Arizona had no shortage of awesome Mexican food. When we landed, we headed to Roosevelt Row and hit up Taco Chelo. It had a low-key atmosphere and it was yummy. The best part? We ate and then made a pact to only eat Mexican our entire trip and we almost kept it.

If you know us at all, you know you’ll most likely find us at a brewery, and when we travel, it’s no exception. Roosevelt Row had a few close together, so it’d be a good place to hop from one to the other. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a ton of time, but we did head to Mother Bunch Brewing and had some excellent beer. Alex had the Sidewalk Astronomer Imperial Stout and I tried all the tart ones — Loved by the Sun and Legends of Lime.

When we were in Sedona, we ate at 89Agave Cantina and I’ve never loved an enchilada so much in my life. I’m sure it had something to do with the fact that it was smothered in queso 🙂

We also made a trip to North Mountain Brewing Company when we were back in Phoenix where we ordered three dinners because we were hangry. It’s called balance, right? To top it all off, our friends had a taco bar at their wedding (fun fact: so did we!) which just means we all have awesome taste and you should consider eating your way through Phoenix.

4. Piestewa Peak hike.
One of my favorite ways to see a new city is to hike its mountains. It’s partly sentimental for me because my friends and I hike on every girl’s trip we take (which = the best memories) and because my friends are part of the reason I love traveling so much. I also always find the trails challenging, yet rewarding since I’m not an avid hiker. This trail, for example, is considered short because you can complete it in about two-three hours. I consider that a long time, but all the hikers in the world definitely do not, ha! The hike was relatively easy at the beginning, but it was steep the entire way which Alex and I both found challenging. And it never seemed to end. We actually didn’t make it the entire way to the top (we had about 15 minutes left … or so the other hikers said … but I swear I heard that 15 times along the way and each time, we always had more to go). It didn’t matter much to us, though, because there were awesome views along the way and we were just doing it for fun.

5. Hole in the Rock (Hike?) and Desert Botanical Garden.
The Hole in the Rock at Papago Park is super cool to see. I wouldn’t consider it a hike because it’s basically just a big rock you walk up to and take cool pictures out of. You could do it dress clothes, if you get the idea. The downfall of it being cool is that it’s also super crowded. But, it’s worth the look and it’s also near other attractions, so it’s easy to fit into your day plans. We hit up the Desert Botanical Gardens afterwards and even though I loved seeing all the cacti, it was definitely overpriced. If you’re on a strict travel budget, you might want to sit this one out. If not, enjoy the rare cacti and plants you might not get to see often.

If you’re thinking about going to Phoenix, go! And if you need a place to stay, I 100% recommend our Airbnb (it was called Dome on the Range). It was the cutest place, stuck right at the edge of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve … far enough from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy nightly fires in a chiminea, but close enough that you only have a 10-15 minute drive to all the fun the city has to offer. This is the space right outside of it, which is also perfect for watching the sun rise and set over Phoenix. Thanks for keeping up!

DIY: Kitchen/Dining Room Remodel

My husband, Alex, and I bought our first home in May 2018. It’s a small ranch in great shape; we wouldn’t have had to change a thing, but we wanted to make it ours. We decided to tackle the kitchen and dining room first for a few reasons:

There was a wall between the kitchen and dining room that made both rooms feel extremely small and suffocating. I like open spaces and we both like to cook and bake. We knew we’d spend a lot of time in these rooms and wanted them to feel open and inviting. Before we even bought the house, I made sure the wall wasn’t a weight-bearing one so we could knock it down.
While most of the house had original hardwood floors, which I loved, the dining room had cheap wood flooring that didn’t match … and it drove me nuts. The kitchen floor was tiled, and while it wasn’t ugly, we didn’t love the look and feel of it. It was rough and never felt clean. And, as soon as that wall came down, we’d be left with two different floors in one room, so we had no choice but to rip it up, too.

Getting Started

You need two things to get started: a positive attitude and helping hands. It can be daunting to redo anything, let alone two major rooms in your house. It takes time, money, hard work, and lots of tears, so you have to start out in the right frame of mind. The sooner you can come to terms with a messy house, a dent in your bank account, and long days, the better off you’ll be. It’s something I struggled with throughout the process, especially because it was our first time doing anything like it, but it’s worth it in the end. And now our list of projects just keeps growing 😉

As for helpers, we definitely couldn’t have done it without my parents. They were such a huge help to us throughout the entire project. My dad is by far the best handyman I’ve ever known, and my mom works so hard she puts the rest of the world to shame. They made countless trips (two hours one way) and spent many nights at our place to help us make this happen, and we can’t thank them enough.

Demo Day

One of the quickest parts of the entire project was demo day where we knocked down the wall. It’s a great first step because it was relatively easy to do and yet it makes a drastic difference. Who doesn’t love big results for little effort?

We saved a lot of time on demo day by measuring the length and width of the opening beforehand. We wrote down measurements and my dad was able to create a fake beam out of pine to cover up the busted walls after we knocked the wall down. You can also see in the bottom picture how we stuck small 1x4s between the different floorings so we didn’t have a gap. Both of these things made the rooms livable until we had time to rip up both floors.

After we knocked down the wall, we spent a lot of time at Lowe’s, ha. We had to get rid of the awful red paint in the kitchen and the awful stripes (yes, you read that correctly) in the dining room. Proof:

We used Sherwin Williams paint in Bungalow Beige. If you’re looking for a subtle, yet noticeable neutral, it’s a great shade. We used a satin sheen for the walls and a flat sheen for the ceiling. We also went one shade lighter for the ceiling per my dad’s recommendation. I had no idea you used different shades and sheens of paint on walls vs. ceilings, so I’ll add it to the list of the many things I learned on this journey!

We didn’t want to pick a top-of-the-line flooring because it’s our starter home, not our forever home, and we tried to be cautious of how much money we put into it to make sure we get a return on our investment. We went with this ProCore locking vinyl for easy installation. I loved the Heirloom Oak color because it had both gray and brown tones (there was something about the all gray flooring that I didn’t like). Alex was able to snap the pieces into place pretty easily. Our major mistake: not laying new sub-flooring the first time around. I know, I know, it seems like a “duh” moment, but we were trying to cut costs and the living room sub-floor was in great shape. It was the kitchen sub-floor that gave us issues. It had so many nails in it … and even though we pounded and pounded them down, they started coming up through the new flooring. We had to tear it all up, lay new sub-flooring, and lay it all back down. I cried many times, but we learned our lesson: some things are worth paying for the first time around.

The Island and Cabinets

We decided to put in an island for more storage space. I read several blogs, looked into buying a few, and then decided to build our own (shocker!). I’m just thankful Alex and my dad are willing to follow through with all of my ideas. My sister helped me visualize it and buy all of the supplies. After we got everything home, it only took about two-three hours to put together. We used:

We put several coats of Polyurethane on the butcher’s block and absolutely love how it turned out.

I also took it upon myself to paint our wood cabinets white. There was nothing wrong with them; I simply like the look of white cabinets better. After days of sanding, priming, and painting, I’m not sure I would recommend it. It’s a huge undertaking. I whined about having to put on more coats for days. If you’re up for the challenge, I would definitely recommend buying an electric sander (we bought a DEWALT Random Orbit Sander), using primer, and enamel paint. Even after a coat of primer, I had to put on three coats of paint. The biggest pain was sanding the base of the cabinets in the kitchen itself because we had to empty every single cabinet and the saw dust made a big mess. To cut costs, I also primed and spray-painted our existing cabinet hardware copper. It’s too early to tell how well they’ll hold up, but it was worth a shot. Was painting the cabinets worth it? I’m not sure I can say yes, but I do like my white cabinets, so that has to count for something.

The Decor

My favorite part of the entire project was picking out new furniture and decorations. It’s crazy how small touches, like lighting, can change the entire ambiance of the room. We created our own light above the island using a small piece of butcher’s block we had leftover and two geometric globes from our wedding backdrop we spray-painted copper. The picture I have was taken early on so the black wiring is wonky, but don’t worry, we fixed it. And of course, my talented dad made us hexagon shelves for all the succulents I snag from Aldi and Trader Joe’s far too often!

After months of saying, “we’re almost done,” we are FINALLY done. And I love seeing how far we’ve come. It’s one of my favorite places to be and I appreciate all the things our first renovation taught me — like which things I never want to do again and will most definitely be picky about when searching for our forever home 🙂 Thanks for keeping up!

Our Big, Fat Greek Honeymoon Part 3: Santorini

I’ve been so eager to write about Santorini. I mean, it’s a dreeeam. Literally. I’m sure most of you can relate to a place evoking a certain feeling. I definitely have those places, too, like my childhood tree house or my high school football field. I know it’s a real thing, but when I heard other people describe Santorini as “dreamy” before we went, I was a little skeptical. I just couldn’t quite grasp what that meant, or how I would just magically feel a certain way by being there — without having memories I associated to it. But now that I’ve gone, dreamy really does fit the place. It’s in the soil or the air, or something … because you really do feel it.

There’s just something about the view. You’re standing on top of the world, a caldera to be exact, 24/7. It’s just breathtaking all. of. the. time. And then there are the white houses. I don’t even know how they do it, but just looking at them makes you feel happy (and clean). And of course, the sunsets. When you watch them, you feel like you’re invincible. The sky lights up pastel yellow, then bright red and electric blue and orange within minutes like someone is painting right in front of you. I’ve seen pretty skies, heck I’d even say I’ve seen some gorgeous sunsets … but nothing compares to watching it on a caldera in the middle of the Aegan Sea. Add it to your bucket list; it’s one of those places you need to see.

Mykonos –> Santorini, Day 6

We had a smooth ferry trip our second time around and arrived in Santorini by early afternoon. We boarded our transfer bus and took the winding road up the cliff. It was one huge turn after the other; as soon as your turned left, you started turning right. The sharp turns and steep cliff in traffic with many buses made for an interesting experience, but it didn’t seem to phase the local drivers. Our ride was a little longer this time, and like every travel day, by the time we arrived in Finikia, we were hungry.

Finikia is a small village right outside of Oia. We stayed there to cut costs, but didn’t mind the small trek into Oia at all. It only took about 10 minutes to walk and it was kind of nice to have our own, quiet place to return home to each night. It felt like we were being plucked from the chaos and planted into another place in time because Finikia is a village of winding footpaths, and our Airbnb was a historical wine canava transformed into a home that kept the traditional Cycladic island style. We also had our own terrace, but no air conditioning (a minor detail I didn’t notice when booking … oops).

We dropped our luggage off and walked to Oia to explore and eat. Lucky for us, Thodoris, our local food tour guide from Athens, lived in Santorini for a few years. He had the best gyro recommendation in Oia, so we headed straight there. pitoGyros quickly became the staple of our trip. Alex and I ate it every single day (sometimes twice in one day). It was so dang good! If you’re ever in Oia and you don’t grab it, you’re definitely missing out.

We didn’t have much time to kill before sunset, so we headed back to our Airbnb to shower and get ready. To be honest, we had no idea where we were heading to watch it, but I read a blog before we went that described a secluded cliff that jutted out into the water. We were in a hurry and on a whim, I told Alex we should try to find the spot — the best decision of the entire trip. Have I said that before?

We found it super fast. Looking back, it seems luck was in our favor because the spot was so close to where we were staying. It was breathtaking. We went back every single night to the same spot, and each night there were less than five people around us (which is super rare in Oia). When we talked to others, they said trying to get a spot and beat the crowds is next to impossible. Thousands of people flock to Oia each night, and so many tourists are bused in to watch the sunset that I can’t even imagine how crowded and annoying it must be. We also watched two wedding photographers snap pictures on the same cliff, which means it must be a hell of good place to be. To find it (shh, don’t tell too many people), walk past the Ikies Houses down towards Captain John Traditional Houses in Oia. There will be a small dirt path that leads you out onto the cliff.

Our first night watching the sunset together was also Alex’s 28th birthday. It was so romantic and I kept saying over and over how lucky I felt. It’s definitely a night I will never forget. The way the sky changes so drastically in such a short amount of time just captures you. We sat and watched it together and didn’t move. At the end, I just stayed where I was as if I could stop the sun from setting and enjoy the moment just a little while longer.

When it was over, we headed further into Oia to shop around. We obviously needed a snack (when we travel, food is always first), so we grabbed ice cream at Kayak … another first visit of many during our stay. The ice cream is smothered over hot waffles and topped with nutella. Yuuum!

Santorini, Day 7

We decided to tackle the famous hike from Oia to Fira the next day. Full disclosure: we definitely weren’t as prepared as we should’ve been. We didn’t get up super early to beat the heat (although I’m not sure how much of a difference it would’ve made), and we didn’t eat anything before we went.

It was one of those experiences I’m glad I did because the views were crazy beautiful the entire time, but it was also hard. It took us over three hours, and by the end of it, I was so sweaty and hungry that I said I’d never recommend it to anyone. But now, a few weeks later, we all know that’s a lie. You should do it if you go. There were several people we talked to who just couldn’t make it, because it’s not easy, it’s a ton of uphill climbing, and at times, you’re walking straight up volcanic rock with no real pathway … so just know what you’re getting into before you head out.

Now that I cautioned everyone … enjoy the stunning views we had for three hours. No matter where we looked, it just felt like we were on top of the world.

Towards the end of the hike, you end up in the city. I half-dragged, half-whined myself through the crowds until we found a place to eat. It was honestly nothing worth mentioning and probably the only food I wouldn’t consider awesome our entire trip. Perhaps some of it had to do with my attitude, but oh well. After we cooled off and fed ourselves, we asked around for directions to the bus station.

The bus station in Fira provides access to many parts of the island. Most people take it to see the gorgeous wineries, but if you know us at all, you know we are craft beer drinkers through and through. Santorini only has one brewery, and it’s relatively new, so we were determined to find it.

We took a short bus ride to Santorini Brewing Company, better known as the “donkey brewery.” We were expecting good food and a tap room to relax, but much to our surprise, they informed us they weren’t allowed to serve beer on premise. We were able to taste each beer on tap, but we had to buy bottled beer to-go. Several other couples were in the same boat as us, so we all sat outside on the concrete steps and drank. It was by no means relaxing after our intense hike, but if you love beer, it’s worth checking out.

Alex and I tried several beers, including the red donkey ale, the crazy donkey IPA, the slow donkey barrel-aged wine beer, and the lazy ass lager. Fun fact: The brewery is small, and only houses equipment to brew certain types of beers. In order to brew the lazy ass lager, they had to export their ingredients to Austria for another brewery to brew. They call it “lazy ass” because while it’s their recipe, they don’t do any work to make it!

We rode the bus the whole way back to Oia, not Fira (thank God for no more hiking!) and got ready for our nightly sunset date.

After it was over, and just like the night before, we headed further into Oia to grab a late dinner. This was the only night we switched up our food choice for a new traditional Greek dish — soutzoukakia. Think of meatballs in the shape of sausage, smothered in a tomato sauce and served with rice. So yummy, and the view from the cliffside was beautiful at night.

Santorini, Day 8

Our last day came way too soon, but we were so excited for our sunset catamaran cruise that it helped ease our inevitable sadness. We were lucky, again, that our tour wasn’t canceled. Remember the bad weather we missed leaving Athens? Well, it hit Santorini a few days before we were there and all catamaran tours were canceled due to heavy winds. I will say … if you can swing it, you should probably book your cruise mid-trip (instead of the last day) in case you need to reschedule, which I heard isn’t unlikely.

We grabbed our last Greek coffee and breakfast at Passaggio. If you’re not looking for it, you can easily miss it as you walk into Oia, but it’s the cutest little place and my croissant was pretty amazing. We spent the morning shopping around and exploring Oia. I bought lava rock earrings as souvenirs, and Alex got the famous evil eye charm for his necklace.

We couldn’t leave without trying to grab a picture of the blue domes, so that’s exactly what we did. We also stumbled across pretty flowers growing on buildings, another Greek staple. I think it’s fair to say Santorini is better told in pictures (not words).

We snagged pitoGyros for lunch and headed back to Finikia to grab our bus for our sunset cruise. We booked the Dreamcatcher Sunset tour through Santorini Sailing and couldn’t have had a better experience. They picked us up and dropped us off at our Airbnb, cruised us all around the island to the red and white beaches, let us swim at every stop, fed us a delicious Greek dinner on board, gave us allll the beer and wine … and let us experience the sunset from the water. Our crew was spectacular, and we quickly made friends. Alex and I were some of the few people to jump in at every spot, but I’m always determined to live it up when I’m traveling!

Alex insisted on eating pitoGyros for the second time that day when the bus dropped us off at 10 p.m. He couldn’t come to terms with never eating it again.

Sitting here writing this brought so many memories back for me that I can’t help but feel genuinely happy. It’s always hard to head home after an awesome trip, let alone your honeymoon, but I try really hard to be glad it happened, rather than sad it’s over. And don’t worry — we have a must-do list for the next time we make it back 😉 Thanks for keeping up!

Our Big, Fat Greek Honeymoon Part 2: Mykonos

When I think of Mykonos, I think of crystal clear blue water and gorgeous beaches … and cocktails priced at 30 euros. It’s definitely a paradise you pay for, but who doesn’t like to be bougie every once in awhile?

Athens –> Mykonos, Day 3

I’m sitting here chuckling because I don’t quite know where to start with our boat-ride-gone-wrong story. We booked a high-speed ferry out of Athens with Seajets early in the morning so we wouldn’t waste a whole day traveling (the slower ferries almost double the time of your trip). I heard over and over how crazy the ports were, but had no idea the surprise we were in for.

We arrived at our port an hour early to be safe. The first shock of the morning came when we were boarding with hundreds of people and literally shoving our suitcases on the floor of the boat. I remember thinking “I’ll never find this; I’ll never get my luggage back,” but everyone was thinking (and verbalizing) the same thing. Somehow, you do find your luggage when exiting. I guess it’s just one of those risks you have to accept.

A short while after boarding, I heard several announcements, but none of them were in English. I started getting concerned when people were getting up and leaving so I decided to find a crew member. When I got to the staircase, it felt like we were in a movie. People were herding and yelling … and everyone looked confused. It was a chaos I can honestly say I’ve never experienced before in my life.

I pushed my way to a crew member who told me “Mykonos, E7.” I assumed it meant we had to leave — but that’s honestly the only information we were given the entire day. There was no communication about why were getting off the boat, and no direction on where we could find E7, assuming it was a another port.

I’ll spare you all the details, but long story short, we walked over a half mile in the rain with no real destination in mind. I half-led, half-followed other girls our age who were on the same travel schedule; it helped to know we weren’t alone. We eventually saw another boat, asked if it was heading the Mykonos, got a head nod, threw our luggage on the floor, boarded an already-full boat with nowhere to sit … and had a 7-hour ride ahead of us (instead of the 2.5 hour planned trip). The worst part? We had no idea we were tripling our travel time until another passenger mentioned it. Alex and I found a spot on the upper deck, which was beautiful at first but then more windy than I could’ve ever imagined. You could barely stand or walk.

It was a rough day (to put it lightly), but to be fair, it was the only hiccup of our entire trip, and we later heard that a day after we left Athens all flights and ferries were canceled because of wind — so ultimately, we were lucky and chalked it up as part of the adventure. Bonus: we saw a huge double rainbow that was much prettier in person when we were hauling our luggage to the new port.

When we arrived in Mykonos late in the afternoon, we were s-t-a-r-v-i-n-g. Thankfully, I did enough research to know you should absolutely have transfers set up in advance when you arrive because the ports are … well … crazy. All of our Airbnb hosts were more than happy to set up a transfer for us. It was slightly more expensive than other methods, but I was never more grateful to see someone with our name on a sign when we arrived. Mykonos also only has about 30 taxis, so I wasn’t putting my faith in grabbing one of those, either.

Our driver took us to our Airbnb in Platis Gialos. It was such a great location because we could walk to both Platis Gialos and Psarou Beach (where Nammos is) in less than 10 minutes each.

As soon as our driver dropped us off, we starting looking at restaurant reviews nearby on Yelp. We read awesome reviews about Avli Tou Thodori on Platis Gialos Beach so we headed there for an early dinner.

Alex had the sea bass and I had the mushroom risotto. They were both delicious, but I was partial to the sea bass I stole from Alex’s plate, ha! It was SO good, in fact, that we ate dinner there twice.

After dinner the first night, we discovered a small, dirt path down a rocky cliff to Psarou beach. We grabbed a cocktail at Nammos and quickly decided we would rent chairs right next to the club for a cheaper price the next day and enjoy the same beach.

We ended the night with a slice of pizza from Blue Myth’s take-out window right near Platis Gialos. As we sat on random hotel steps overlooking the beach eating our pizza, we laughed about being peasants in a place that felt overly expensive. But hey, it’s all about finding your slice of comfort when you’re far away from home!

Mykonos, Day 4

By day four, the time change and our crazy travel mishap the day before finally caught up to us and we slept in until 10:30 a.m.! It was our first day to sit down and relax, and Alex was so excited.

We walked to Psarou Beach by 11 a.m. to grab sunbeds and an umbrella. Most clubs open up around this time, so it’s important to get their right on time if you want to snag a spot. We paid 50 euros for two beds and an umbrella, but you pay that almost anywhere in Mykonos. We did discover that almost every beach has a tiny sliver of sand that’s public — and free — if you want to lay down your towel for the day. We didn’t do it because #honeymoon, but if you’re trying to cut costs, it’s a great way to do it.

We were livin’ our best life drinking fancy cocktails allll day. Evidence:

We ate dinner at Nikos Gallop that night, a restaurant in Platis Gialos highly recommended for seafood, and of course, it didn’t disappoint. I ordered sea bass and Alex ordered swordfish. We got hummus and pita as an appetizer and both agreed it was the best pita we had our entire trip!

Most of the restaurants in Mykonos brought us a complimentary dessert after our meal, and Nikos Gallop was no exception. We were able to try portokalopita, a Greek orange cake that sounds gross but is actually really tasty.

After dinner, we caught a bus to Mykonos Town. It’s definitely worth a visit because the bus ride is short (and cheap). We just got lost walking through the narrow, winding paths of the town, shopped, and switched up our dessert game for some gelato … which was a mistake. When in Greece, always choose the lukumades. Nothing else compares!

Mykonos, Day 5

You can’t go to Mykonos without renting an ATV. I mean, you can, but that’s boring. Alex was a little nervous because the roads were so steep and narrow … and people drive like maniacs, but we obviously didn’t let that stop us. You can drive and park them practically anywhere, so it was a great way for us to explore other parts of the island.

We drove the quad to Elia Beach and rented chairs for the day. It’s definitely a quieter beach, and we enjoyed experiencing the different atmospheres.

When we left the beach, we rode the quad to the other side of the island near Agios Sostis. A friend recommended eating at Kiki’s Tavern, but we just never made it. The reviews look amazing, though, if you ever have the chance to go. If nothing else, it’s a good address to plug into your phone if you want an excuse to see the opposite side of the island.

For dinner, we headed back to Avli Tou Thodori. If you know me at all, I’m always harping on Alex for wanting to eat at the same places over and over, but just like all the other Yelpers, we had to go back for the sea bass one more time. Fun fact: You can eat on the beach when the sun goes down so we made a reservation the first time we went and were so glad we did. Note the complimentary lukumades on our table … yum!

We headed to bed early to mentally prepare for the ferry trip to Santorini the next morning. It would be Alex’s birthday and we were hoping for the best … and little did we know, that’s exactly what we were going to get. Thanks for keeping up!

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: